July 2004
Robinson R22
Subscribers Only Relatively cheap to buy and operate, it has earned its spot as the world’s most popular light helicopter.
Dual-Pump Demise
Subscribers Only In the wake of failures, Aero Advantage has folded. Will buyers be stranded with no support and uncertain legality?
Pressurized Airplanes
Subscribers Only Want to lose the nose hose for the comfort of an inflated cabin? Cessna’s P210 is our top value pick in a sparse field.
Dead in the Water?
Subscribers Only The airplanes exist but no one seems to know why the sport pilot initiative can’t get off the ground.
Paperless Charts
Subscribers Only Sporty’s DVD-based Chart Viewer and Pocket Plates are practical, good-value alternatives to reams of paper.
Bendix or Slick Mags?
Subscribers Only Overhaul shops like the Bendix but those who repair mags in the field tilt toward Slicks, which are also cheaper.
Garmin vs. Garmin
Subscribers Only The GNS530 is easier to use but the CNX80 has more tricks. If you pick the latter, set aside training time.
Letters: 07/04
Headset Beefs In your headset review in the May 2004 issue, you failed to mention one problem with the revised Bose X: The volume controls have no click stops. They move with the lightest of touches. A general question for the headset manufacturers is why no one makes a unit with volume and balance rather than dual volume controls. If they must do dual volume controls, then give me markings so I can keep the settings the same. -Paul Platt Via e-mail ---------- Goodyear Landings My experience of much greater durability with Goodyear Flight Custom III tires reflects UND’s results. My estimate was roughly 50 percent more landings per tire with Flight...
The Dual-Pump Fiasco
The normal rules of supply and demand don’t seem to apply to all things related to aviation. There’s an explanation for this and a couple of years ago, I heard Alan Klapmeier, CEO of Cirrus, summarize it: flying is so much fun that many of us are willing to pay anything to do it. Perhaps that explains why aviation cottage industry businesses come and go like the weather and, ever the enthusiasts, we sometimes buy the products of these companies in the blind hope that they’ll be around to support whatever dingbat gadget we thought was good idea when the VISA card was unsheathed. Sadly, our hopes are occasionally dashed. This month’s poster child for a good-idea-gone-bad is the Aero Adva...